Competition Efforts By NASCAR Are a Step in the Right Direction

On Tuesday, NASCAR finally announced its 2014 rules package for the Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 racecar. While these changes may not have been significant or may not have been a step in the right direction in the eyes of many, the efforts of the sanctioning body cannot be denied.

In an effort to reenergize the sport, NASCAR has spent the recent years developing and carrying out ideas in a five-year industry action plan. The plan has focused on the restructuring of virtually every corner of the sport, from marketing and public relations to the competition itself.  To most, the competition on the racetrack is what matters more than anything and rightly so – the racing is why we watch.

In the recent years, with aerodynamics becoming critical in the setup of every racecar, the racing product has not met the expectations of many fans, drivers, and media. Turbulent air that separates cars over the course of long green flag runs, especially at intermediate tracks, has left many followers of the sport unsatisfied. NASCAR has been searching for ways to improve the product.

In May of 2013, NASCAR brought in former GM executive Gene Stefanyshyn as the Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development. Since his hire, Stefanyshyn has worked closely with other NASCAR executives, drivers, manufacturers, and teams to evaluate and make improvements to the competition.

In the months of Stefanyshyn’s presence, there has been the promise of change moving forward. In July, the sanctioning body announced a complete restructuring of competition, which focuses on major changes to rules, appeal procedures, technology, officiating, and governance set to take place over the next few years. The focus of NASCAR has shifted. Officials will now focus strictly on enforcing the rules, while Stefanyshyn will be responsible for putting the rules into place.

In October, Stefanyshyn led his first major test, guiding six teams at Charlotte Motor Speedway in trying potential rule packages for 2014 and beyond. Just weeks later, he led a 30-car test at the speedway to finalize and confirm previous ideas tested in October. Even more promising was the way the second test was conducted – multiple heat races were ordered to provide the most accurate portrayal of race conditions.

Just days after the test, NASCAR delivered the rules package to race teams. It was made clear that data was a major part of the decision making process for Stefanyshyn and his R&D team – and will be moving forward beyond next season.

“It was important to get the final pieces of the rules package to teams as quickly as possible following the final tests last week,” Stefanyshyn said. “Throughout the process, we gained valuable data that informed many of the changes for 2014. This data will prove useful as we continue to evolve the racing product into the future.”

In a short time, Stefanyshyn has gone from a name that few would recognize – or could spell – to one that is becoming a major figure in the sport. Frequent media availabilities by Stefanyshyn throughout testing and rule announcements have made it clear that the industry is pulling together to reach a common goal: the most entertaining racing possible.

Stefanyshyn not only leads NASCAR in determining rules, but he also leads in innovation. As technology evolves, so must NASCAR. With recent developments like the Air Titan, to future developments like the digital dashboard, innovation has been the word of the year for NASCAR’s staff.

One common theme in the recent efforts of improving the competition is that the process is a continual one. Developments are already being considered for 2015 and beyond.

“I feel very proud to be part of the NASCAR organization,” Stefanyshyn said. “I think the Gen-6 car is a wonderful step forward. We’ve raced it for a year. Now we’re starting to collect a lot of data and beginning to take the car to the next level. So this is all about a journey of continuous improvement, and continuing to make it better year after year after year.”

The 2014 rules package could be a success or it could be a failure. It might not even be a noticeable change to race fans. The rules package did not seem to be a major shakeup like many had expected. Still, this initial phase in developing the competition is something that race fans should be excited about for the years ahead. In the long run, these efforts are likely to pay off.

Let’s hope these efforts pay off sooner rather than later.